Pilfer-proof closure

ABSTRACT

A pilfer-proof metal closure for containers having a wide mouth and an external screw thread, which includes a top portion covering the mouth of the container and a skirt portion defining a screw thread and having a rupture line to define a locking ring below the rupture line, the locking ring being provided with a plurality of resilient locking members which define an annular surface having a diameter less than the diameter of a locking ring on the container, with the locking members being adapted to be displaced from the container when the closure is set in position without changing the diameter of the locking ring.

Kliiit ates Patent 1 Sourbet 1st nl, 1 1 Aug. 7, 1973 [5 PlllLFlEm-PRUUF CLOSURE V 3,219,223 11/1965 Hadley et al 215/42 Inventors: Chime Pierre e rue 3,589,544 6/l97l Hannon 2l5/42 Blomet Paris Ren Simon Devylder Primary Exammer-George T. Hall :R Sam-m sur 1 Isle both Attorney--McDougall, Hersh & Scott rance [22] Filed: Apr. 28, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] AppL N03 M83) A pilfer-proof metal closure for containers having a wide mouth and an external screw thread, which in cludes a top portion covering the mouth of the conl l fl Appllmllim Priority Dam tainer and a skirt portion defining a screw thread and Apr. 29, 1971 France 7115396 having a rupture line to define a locking ring below the rupture line, the locking ring being provided with a plu- [52] US. Cl. 215/42, 215/7 rality of resilient locking members which define an an- [51] Int. Cl 865d 41/20 nular surface having a diameter less than the diameter [58] Field oi Search 215/7, 42, 95, 46 A- of a locking ring on the container, with the locking members being adapted to be displaced from the con- [56] References (Cited tainer when the closure is set in position without chang- U D Es PATENTS ing the diameter of the locking ring. 2,470,057 5/1949 Spender 215/42 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEnms mrs SHEHZUFZ Fig. 4

1 PILFER-PROOF CLOSURE This invention relates to a pilfer-proof metal closure for glass bottles and jars which have an external screw thread in the vicinity of their mouth.

Such containers have long been used for selling food products for preservation such as jams, vegetables, etc. The elevated temperatures necessary for sterilization at the moment the containers are closed generally produce after cooling, within the container, a reduced pressure which is sufficient to hold in position a closure provided with a joint placed on the edge of the con tainer mouth.

The elevated temperatures make it necessary to use closure means made of a heat-resistant material, and in mosj cases a metal closure is selected. The closure comprises a skirt portion which surrounds the neck of the container mouth, over a height which varies according to the particular containers. For products which are not consumed all at once, use is preferably made of a screw closure in which the skirt portion of the closure is provided with a screw thread, either during production of the closure or once the closure has been set in position, the neck of the glass container acting as the screw-forming die.

Such closures are now widely used, and comply perfectly with the required conditions of sterility of the packages.

However, changes in the retail trade, such as the oldstyle grocery changing to self-service, and indeed to supermarket-type stores, have given rise to a new problem as regards this kind of container. Customers who move between the shelves on which the goods are placed and not watched are often unable to resist the temptation of sampling," by opening the containers.

In the packaging of liquids, in which use of the screw closure is generally made, this problem has been overcome in different ways, which can be describedas follows: the skirt of the closure comprises a tear line, also called a line of bridges," which defines a guarantee ring of greater or lesser width, the ring being secured for example by crimping on a thickened portion on the outside of the neck of the bottle. This operation must always be carried out on the neck of the bottle when the bottle is filled.

It has been suggested to simply transfer the constructions known in the bottling art as described above to wide-mouth containers, but those skilled in the art quickly discovered the problems which such a transfer raises. In particular, it would be necessary to replace the machines which are used at present, and this represents a considerable capital investment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a closure or a closure blank which can be set in position with any machine presently used for the closing of bottles and jars, or even by hand, and which is absoutely pilfer-proof in character.

This and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter and, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side view in elevation of a closure embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the closure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the neck of a wide-mouth container for receiving the closure of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of a closure embodyingthe features of the invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a two-piece closure embodying the features of the invention.

The invention resides in a pilfer-proof metal closure for use with glass bottles, jars and the like with a wide mouth, having an external screw thread which includes a skirt portion comprising, below the deformations defining the screw thread, a rupture line defining a guarantee or locking ring. The guarantee or locking ring is provided with inwardly directed resilient locking members which define an open surface having a diameter which is less than that of a locking rim provided on the glass container, with the locking members being positioned such that they move aside when the closure is set in position, without varying the diameter of the ring.

The locking members in the skirt portion comprise the lower lips of a series of slots which are located in the'same plane, parallel to the end part of the cover. The lower lips are displaced towards the interior of the closure.

The slots can be connected together by bridges which are more or less weakened, thus forming the rupture line which is broken when the container is first opened. They can also be positioned lower than the rupture or tear line, in which case the spacing of the lips can be greater.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, the closure 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises an end or top portion 2 and a skirt portion 3. The internal angle formed by the end portion 2 and the skirt portion 3 is provided with a resilient joint or seal 4. To facilitate screwing and unscrewing of the closure, the closure 1 has flutes 5 at the top of the skirt portion; below the flutes 5, the skirt portion 3 is provided with a screw thread 6.

The screw thread 6 occupies only the upper part of the skirt portion 3 and terminates before reaching the rupture line 7 which defines the guarantee or locking ring 8. The rupture line 7 comprises incisions 9 which are connected by bridges l0 and positioned in the same plane, parallel to the end portion 2 of the closure. The free edge of the skirt portion 3 can be rolled at 11, as is conventional in closures of this type.

The guarantee or locking ring 8 which is therefore defined by the rupture line 7 above and by the rolled edge 11 below is also provided with a certain number of slots 12, the edge portion 13 of which is displaced inwardly, as is most clearly shown in FIG. 2. The edge portions 13 form lips which reduce the internal passage of the closure and which can be hooked under a ring or rim 14 on the outside of the neck of the container to be closed (FIG. 3), below the screw thread 15.

Another ring 16 which is placed below the rim 14 can be provided on the container, and serves to support the lower part ofthe skirt portion 11.

FIG. 4 shows that it is possible to position the slots 12 forming the lips (edge portions 13) on the rupture line 7 itself which makes it possible to shorten the skirt portion, if desired.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows that the guarantee ring can also be used on two-part closures, thatis to say, closures in which the end portion 2' is separate from the skirt portion 3 in which it is held by a rim I17.

Setting these closures in position, and this is essential for the invention, is in no way different from setting in position closures which are not provided with the guarantee ring according to the invention.

When one of the above described closures is placed on the mouth of a jar or a bottle, and fitted securely by screwing, the lips (edge portions 13) slide without difficulty over the screw thread and then over the ring 14 to thereby secure the locking ring 8 under the ring 14. Any attempt to unscrew the closure automatically breaks the bridges which connect the locking ring 8 to the top of the skirt.

Some machines for closing glass jars or bottles are closure blanks on which the screw thread has not yet been formed; this operation is carried out on the neck of the container to be closed, deformation 6 of the skit portion (for example, screw-threading) being performed on the screw thread 15 itself of the container.

The above described closure also lends itself to this method of operation.

The shape of the screw thread does not play any part, and double threads, bayonet threads etc. can be used without difficulty. The locking lips can be of other shapes, for example rectangular or the like.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made in the details of construction, procedure and use without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A pilfer-proof metal closure for containers having a wide mouth, a locking rim and an external screw thread comprising a top portion dimensioned to cover the mouth of the container and a skirt portion, said skirt portion extending from the top portion and defining a screw thread adapted to engage the external screw thread, a rupture line on the skirt portion, a locking ring extending about the container defined by the skirt portion below the rupture line, a plurality of resilient locking members formed in the locking ring about the container to define an annular surface having a diameter less than the diameter of the locking ring to secure the locking ring to the locking rim, with the locking members extending angularly inwardly from the locking ring whereby the locking members are displaced outwardly from the container when the closure is set in position on the container without changing the diameter of the locking ring.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the locking members are formed of a series of slots in the locking ring in a plane parallel to the top portion, said slots defining lower lips adapted to engage the locking rim.

3. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the slots are formed in the skirt portion on the rupture line.

4. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the slots are formed in the skirt portion below the rupture line.

5. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the top portion is integral with the skirt portion.

6. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the skirt portion defines an annular rim adapted to overlay the top portion to secure the top portion in sealing engagement with the mouth of the container.

7. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the rupture line is formed of a plurality of incisions in the skirt portion about the container and a plurality of bridges between the incisions formed of the skirt portion whereby the rupture line has low resistance to tearing as the closure is unscrewed from the container to break the bridges.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE E CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- 3,'75 1 Dated August 7, 1973 Inventofls) CLAUDE PIERRE SOURBET et a1. (S.N. 248,440)

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Colume l, lirie 16, change "mosj" to most V Colume 3, line '13, change "are" 7 to use Signed end seeled this 5th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR; c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer 7 Commissioner of Patents 

1. A pilfer-proof metal closure for containers having a wide mouth, a locking rim and an external screw thread comprising a top portion dimensioned to cover the mouth of the container and a skirt portion, said skirt portion extending from the top portion and defining a screw thread adapted to engage the external screw thread, a rupture line on the skirt portion, a locking ring extending about the container defined by the skirt portion below the rupture line, a plurality of resilient locking members formed in the locking ring about the container to define an annular surface having a diameter less than the diameter of the locking ring to secure the locking ring to the locking rim, with the locking members extending angularly inwardly from the locking ring whereby the locking members are displaced outwardly from the container when the closure is set in position on the container without changing the diameter of the locking ring.
 2. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the locking members are formed of a series of slots in the locking ring in a plane parallel to the top portion, said slots defining lower lips adapted to engage the locking rim.
 3. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the slots are formed in the skirt portion on the rupture line.
 4. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the slots are formed in the skirt portion below the rupture line.
 5. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the top portion is integral with the skirt portion.
 6. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the skirt portion defines an annular rim adapted to overlay the top portion to secure the top portion in sealing engagement with the mouth of the container.
 7. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the rupture line is formed of a plurality of incisions in the skirt portion about the container and a plurality of bridges between the incisions formed of the skirt portion whereby the rupture line has low resistance to tearing as the closure is unscrewed from the container to break the bridges. 